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We (tsunagu Japan) are a website with a mission to connect Japan to the rest of the world.
There was a tragic earthquake here in Japan on New Year's day that devastated several communities in Ishikawa Prefecture and claimed hundreds of lives. Ever since the disaster, we've been thinking about how we could use our business to help the affected area, and finally came up with this project.
We're starting a new upcycled knife brand we're calling "tsunagu Knives" that will be made in collaboration with a blacksmith in the hardest-hit area, and we need your support!
Here's the concept:
We've gathered old, forgotten, and rusty knives from around Japan with a plan to upcycle them into new, sharp knives that can be used for years
The blacksmith we're working with for this project is called Fukube Kaji, a 115 year-old company with more than 500,000 knife sharpening and repair jobs under their belt. We're working with them to take the old blades, repair, clean and sharpen them; fix them with new handles, and stamp them with the brand name "tsunagu Knives".
Support this project and receive a quality made-in-Japan knife that you can use for decades, while also supporting the work of a wonderful local business in one of the hardest-hit areas of Japan in January's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Go to Kickstarter Page
Why This Project Now?
On New Year's day, a huge earthquake hit the northern coast of Japan, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture was the epicenter of the quake and ensuing tsunami, and it also happens to be the home of Fukube Kaji, the blacksmith and expert in knife repair that we are working on this project with.
They had just completed their first successful Kickstarter campaign for their new knife called SHINBU, and were in the process of producing the blades when the earthquake hit. Miraculously, their workshop itself took only minor damage and the building was left standing despite the street in front of it being ripped in two.
Although their workshop narrowly avoided disaster, they were left without power for many weeks, and are still without water—both necessary ingredients for forging new blades. In an effort to regain some sense of normalcy and restore some hope into the lives of the staff working there, the workshop has already reopened, with the staff doing the only work they can—repairing and sharpening knives by hand.
After a disaster, donations are essential to help people survive, especially those without a home or any belongings left. However, giving purpose and meaning is also important for providing hope to those in despair. Work is something that can provide just that, so when we asked Fukube Kaji if they would be interested in taking on this project, they happily agreed.
Since Kickstarter doesn't allow donations, we came up with this project instead to provide support by simply giving business to the affected community. The more people that back this project, the more knives we can send to Fukube Kaji to get restored, thus pouring more money into the local economy and providing more work for the wonderful staff there.
Whether you've always wanted an authentic Japanese knife but have been reluctant to buy because of the high price, or if you already own and love many blades, please consider backing this project and adding a new (old) Fukko Knife to your kitchen.
Why Choose A tsunagu Knife?
Reasonable price
New Japanese knives can fetch quite a price, as they are highly valued for their superior sharpness and durability. But the truth is, a well-made knife can be used for decades—even generations—if properly cared for. The Japanese have been making some of the world's sharpest knives for thousands of years, so oftentimes old blades are just as good or even better than new blades made today. Thus, it's truly a waste to throw away a good Japanese blade that could be upcycled into a new knife.
Sharpness
Fukube Kaji prides themselves on their ability to give a blade an incredibly sharp edge. People love Japanese knives for how sharp and durable they are, and these knives won't disappoint!
Sustainable
The old blades used for these upcycled knives were thought of as junk and would otherwise have been thrown away and perhaps melted down to be recycled as something else. Instead, we're bringing them back to life and giving people the opportunity to choose an upcycled knife instead of a brand new knife. This saves the energy that otherwise would have gone into mining and forging the steel!
Cool
Japanese knives are cool. There's no other way to say it. And what could be cooler than owning a Japanese knife with a vintage blade that has been restored to perfect working order?